TO watch three-year-old Christopher Hargreaves happily run and play it is difficult to imagine he was born 12 weeks premature weighing just 1lb 1oz.

PLAYFUL and full of fun... Christopher Hargreaves with mum Anne and twin Benjamin.

Share

Get daily updates directly to your inbox

Thank you for subscribing!

Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

TO watch three-year-old Christopher Hargreaves happily run and play it is difficult to imagine he was born 12 weeks premature weighing just 1lb 1oz.

Christopher had the most difficult start in life possible due to Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a potentially fatal disease resulting in an imbalanced flow of blood from one twin to the other.

The rare illness resulted in Christopher being starved of oxygen and nutrition in the womb.

Christopher and Benjamin were born at St Mary's Hospital, Manchester, in January 2002, following emergency surgery by the world's top twin specialist, Professor Nicholas Fisk.

Christopher was born with fractured legs due to malnutrition. His mother Anne said: "The rare condition means one twin takes everything and starves the other. When Christopher was born he was just the size of my hand."

For 18 months Christopher, who had chronic lung disease, was on oxygen and was deaf from glue ear. He is still unable to eat and relies on a feeding tube into his stomach.

Despite his poor health and the delay in his development, Christopher is now a happy youngster like his playmates at Cutgate Playgroup, which he was able to join thanks to a pioneering scheme launched by Rochdale Council.

Christopher was provided with a carer, Karen Partington, who helped him to integrate with the other children.

Although he has yet to learn how to speak, the tot loves to listen to others sing and he enjoys painting, reading books and jigsaws.

In September it is hoped he will be able to attend Whittaker Moss Primary School with Benjamin.

Anne, of Hollowfield, Norden, said: "Because Christopher suffered from glue ear he couldn't hear until recently. For almost three years he has been in his own silent world.

"He has had grommets in his ears and his adenoids removed to improve his hearing and breathing and he is now doing fantastic.

"He has started babbling now and it won't be long before he is trying to speak. There was a time he wouldn't go near other children, but now he is playing in the sand and playing tag with them.

"He has come on so much Karen no longer needs to work with him."

Anne and husband Michael have kept one of Christopher's tiny babygrows, worn when he weighed just 3lbs, and a diary of their experiences to show him when he's older.

Anne said: "After 25 weeks both babies were critical and I was told they were going to have to be delivered early.

"Professor Fisk, who delivered the Countess of Wessex's baby, operated on me at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital in London. He saved their lives and gave me three weeks more to carry the twins.

"Benjamin, who weighed 2lbs 14 oz, was also tiny, but his health problems were less serious.

"Ben was in hospital from January to April and Christopher was in hospital until June.

"Benjamin is now about an inch taller and slightly bigger than Christopher, but he is catching him up."

Sue Birtles, the council's play and childcare manager, said: "The main aim is to allow children with any type of disability to access mainstream services. When these children are given the opportunity to work alongside able bodied peers it seems to really enhance their development."